1. The Power of Kings Coach Parrish OMS Chapter 14, Section 4

2. The Struggle  For 3 days, King Henry IV waited for Pope Gregory VII’s decision for forgiveness. King Henry IV had been choosing bishops in the Catholic Church which the Pope disagreed with.  The Pope excommunicated Henry IV from the Church but later reinstated him.  Then in 1081, King Henry invaded Italy, replaced the pope and sent him into exile.

3. Pope Gregory VII Tomb in Salerno

4. Henry IV – King of England

5. Nation Building  Henry’s success in overthrowing the pope was a hint of things to come. As new kings came to power, they put their wishes before those of the Church.  The kings of Europe began to gain power.

6. Power of Nobles  When the 1200s began, Europe was still a feudal society (feudalism). While kings ruled over kingdoms, lords and nobles still held great power.  If the feudal system fails, the power of lords will decrease and kings will gain more power.

7. Decline of Feudalism  One reason for the decline of feudalism was the rise of towns and increased trade. Kings supported the towns in exchange for money.  With the money from towns, kings hired armies and protected the towns. This weakened the nobles (leaders of feudalism) The Crusades also weakened them.

8. Birth of Nations  Over time, kings became more and more powerful. Instead of Europe looking like a patchwork of fiefs, large areas of land were controlled by single kings.  Kings became strong enough to challenge the Church. Gradually the large kingdoms turned into nations.

9. Birth of Nations, cont.  Nation – community of people that shares territory and a government.  The process of combining smaller communities into a single nation with a national identity and government is called nation building.

10. Changes in England  By the 1200s, England was on its way to becoming a unified nation. In 1066, William of Normandy, conquered England.  The kings that followed, Henry I and Henry II further increased the power of kings.

11. William of Normandy’s Castle Remains

12. King John Angers the Nobles  When John became king of England in 1199, he quickly tried to increase his wealth and power. He taxed his people heavily, and jailed the innocent who crossed him.  The pope eventually excommunicated John for his actions.

13. King John’s Tomb

14. The Magna Carta  John was now at the mercy of the nobles he had angered while king. With the backing of the bishops, the nobles demanding a meeting with the king.  On June 15, 1215, 2000 English nobles gathered and presented John a list of demands. John was forced to place the royal seal on the document.  The document became law. Magna Carta – called the Great Charter, limited the king’s power over the nobles.

15. The Magna Carta, cont.  The king could no longer jail any freeman or raise taxes without consulting the Great Council of lords and clergy.  Model Parliament – council of common people as well as lords and clergy. As it gained power, Parliament helped unite England.

16. Hundred Years’ War  Despite the growth of nations, Western Europe was not at peace. Two emerging nations went to war.  Hundred Years’ War – long series of clashes between England and France that lasted from 1337 – 1453.

17. Causes of the War  In the 1300s, the English king was the lord of several counties in France. In 1152 King Henry II (England) married Eleanor of Aquitaine (France) that forced more French land into English hands.  In 1328, the French king died, and King Edward III of England, whose mother was a French princess, claimed to be king of France under feudal law. French nobles disagreed, Edward III invaded and this began the 100 Years War.

18. Joan of Arc’s Victory  As the 100 Years War pressed on, each side won victories but the tide turned in 1429 when a peasant girl, Joan of Arc, took control of the French forces.  Under her command, the French won many battles. In 1430, she was taken prisoner, tried for witchcraft, and burned at the stake.

19. Joan of Arc

20. Growing Power of Kings  The Hundred Years War affected many things. New weapons caused kings to rethink their armies. Castles could no longer stand cannon fire.  It also affected feelings as people began to think of themselves as belonging to a country. Parliament increased its power as kings needed money for war. The war also set the current boundaries of England and France.